Report of the sixth AREB meeting, Manila, The Philippines, 10-12 November 2009

During their sixth annual meeting held in Manila (Philippines), the Asian Rabies Expert Bureau (AREB) reviewed the implementation of programs for rabies prevention, control, and elimination in Asia. AREB members strongly support a "one health" approach for controlling rabies, combining increased public awareness, community involvement, pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) programs for children living in endemic areas, improved dog bite management and improved access to post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) for exposed persons, as well as extended dog vaccination. They called for stronger PrEP recommendations for children living at risk of rabies exposure and clear, simplified PEP regimens utilizing modern WHO pre-qualified vaccines and, in case of category III exposures, appropriate administration of rabies immunoglobulin (RIG) or, hopefully, monoclonal antibody combinations in the future. They renewed their support for World Rabies Day, one of the best opportunities to increase advocacy for rabies control.